Comments for Ghost Ship

Ghost Ship: 02/13/10

Ghost Ship by Dietlof Reiche is a young adult mystery with paranormal themes. Vikki plans to spend her summer waiting tables in her parents' restaurant, a must see stop in their seaside village. A summertime friendship with boy visiting the town with his parents and the mayor's renewed interest in the figurehead that sits in prominent display in the restaurant sparks a series of events that forces the village to relive the events that brought the figurehead to shore.

The book has some fantastic moments like the bay running dry and the appearance of the ghost ship. Unfortunately these dramatic moments are spread thin across an otherwise slowly paced novel. I realize a teen working in her parents' restaurant will be tied to her job but so much time is spent in the restaurant when the exciting and scary parts are happening outside.

I struggled to finish Ghost Ship. It lacks strong characterization, a well thought out timeline and dramatic pacing. Too much effort is spent describing the mundane and not enough on the extraordinary.